Machine for crimping plastic caps on bottles



Feb. 28, 1928. R. E. RUNDELL MACHINE FOR CRIMPING PLASTIC CAPS 0NBOTTLES Filed April 7. 1925 Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,660,848 PATENT OFFICE.

RUPERT n. RUNDELL. or ROCKVILLE CENTER, NEW YORK, Assrenon r0 LAimwEsrCORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR CRIMPING; PLASTIC CAPS ON BOTTLES.

Application filed April 7,

This invention relates to an improvement in machines for crimpingplastic caps on bottles or other containers, and its main object is theproduction of a machine of this general character which is inexpensiveto build and operate, and which has sufficient capacity for use byfarmers and dairymen who bottle small quantities of milk or othercommodities daily and who can not afford to use the power-drivenmachines used by bottlcrs of larger quantities. With this and otherobjects not specifically mentioned in view, the inventionconsists incertain combinations and constructions which'will be hereinafter fullydescribed and then specifically set forth in the claims hereuntoappended.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of referenceindicate the same or like parts, Fig. 1 is a general View, inperspective, of amachine constructed in accordance with the invention;Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the parts on the bedplate; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the crimper and adjacent parts; Fig. 4is a diagram illustrating the action of the actuating levers; Fig.6 is aplan View of the bottle and cap centering device; Fig. 6 illustrates themethod of locking the annular coil spring which holds the crimpingfingers to their duty; Fig. 7 is a detail view in elevation of theheating chamber; Fig. 8 diagrammatically illustrates the action of thecrimper; and Fig. 9 is a detail view of the trip lever actuating thecentering device.

In carrying the invention into effect, there is provided a source of capsu ply in which caps are stacked and from w ich they are removed one byone, a cap heater operating to successively heat the caps to soften themfor application to bottle tops, a table forming the bottom of saidsource and said heater, a crimping die in said table, and means forpushing caps over said table from said source to said heater and thenceto said die. These parts and devices may be widely varied inconstruction within the .scope of the claims, for the specific structureselected to illustrate the invention is but one of numerous possibleconcrete embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, it not to berestricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, there is provided a hand or manually-actuatedlever 1,

1928. Serial No. 100,399.

ad ustably secured to the hub of the forked lever 2 wh1c h actuates thecrim er by the connecting links 3 pivoted to t e crimper plate 4 (Fig.3).

he crimper comprises the plate 4, integral with the bosses 5 in whichslide the ide rods 6 of the die 7, the coil-springs 8 ho ding thecrimper and die in resilient relation. The plate 4 has the socketrecesses 9 which, with the lock-plate 10, provide a socket bearmg forthe crimper fingers 11. The rollers 0t these fingers are kept pressinagainst the cr mper plunger 12 by means 0 the annular coil-sprlng 13,the ends of which are locked together by means of a smaller coil-spring14 threaded between the coils of the larger spring (Fig. 6). The crimperfingers are guided by the slots in the guide-bell 15 and in the guideplate 18.

The bottle to be capped is placed on the adpistable support 19 andcentered at the bottom by the V-guide 19. A cap having been placed onthe die by means to be hereinafter described, the lever 1 is moved inthe direction of the arrow, bringing crimper and die down on the top ofthe bottle, which has just previously been centered at its top by thecentering device on the under side of the die. This centering deviceconsists of the pivoted levers 20, provided with beveled lugs 21 whichsimultaneously grip the top of the bottle when the levers are turned inthe direction of the arrows (Fig. 5), by the knob 22 which engages theoblique trip lever 23 onthe down stroke of the crimper. The trip leveris pivoted to the bed plate (Fig. 9) and is held in an Oblique positionby means of the spring 24, the stop 25 determining its initial position.As the crim er die descends, the knob 22 is forced sidewise until 9 itcan go no farther and then forces the lever back to the dotted position.When the lever and knob are disengaged, the lever springs back. Thisdevice makes it possible to use the same centering device for bottles ofdifferent diameters, since the trip lever will always yield as soon asthe knob becomes stationary by the action of the centering lugs inengaging the bottles.

The levers 20, which are interconnected by means of the links 26, arepulled back to their ori inal position by the s rings 27, as soon as t eknob is allowed to y1e1d,in order to pass by the trip lever by theturning of the spring latch 28 to which it is fastened,

and which is provided with a stop to prevent the knob from yielding onthe downstroke.

The die, which is normall in contact w1th the rollers of the crimper ners is pushed down over the top of the bottle, the plunger die 12forcing the cap into the neck of the bottle. As the crimper and diecontinue to move downwardly, the cap is drawn between the die and therollers, impart1ng to it a corrugated appearance, and then folded overthe top of the bottle (Fig. 8). On the up stroke the coil spring 29 willcontinue to hold the crimper plunger in contact with the bottle,allowing the 'ngers to be withdrawn upwardly over the protruding rim ofthe bottle neck.

The entire crimper, by means of the sleeve 30, slides up and down in thesupport 31, the crimper plunger having an additional sliding movement inthe sleeve 30 by means of the stem 32, the spring 29 holding the sleeveand plunger in resilient relation. The crimper die is kept pressingagainst the rollers by the action of the spring 8. In Fig. 3, for thesake of clearness, the die has been depicted at some distance away fromthe crimper, and only one centering lever is shown, so as not to obscurethe drawing. Fig. 5 gives the correct relation of die and centeringlevers.

When the crimper fingers have been held around the cap long enough toallow'the caps to cool and become set rigidly on the bottle, the lever 1is moved back to its neutral osition, which is reached when the catchpin 33 engages the depression 34 in the guide groove of the plate 35attached to the crimper support. The capped bottle is removed and anuncapped bottle is placed on the support 19. The lever 1 is then movedto the'right-hand dotted position shown in Fig. 4. This movement bringsthe transfer arms to the dotted position shown in Fig. 2. The lever 1 isthen brought back to the neutral position. This brings the transferlevers back to the full-line osition shown in Fig. 2. The lever 1 is ten brought down to.the left-hand position shown in Fig. 4, this movementcrimping the cap on the bottle.

When the stacker transfer has been moved from the dotted position shownin Fig. 2 to the full-line osition, a cap has been pushed over the tabieto the heating chamber, the hot cap transfer being then'in the full-lineposition. The lever 1 is then pushed farther back and the pawl 36 (Fig.4), pivoted to the extension 37 of the forked lever 2, engages the pin38 of the transfer actuating lever 39, this lever being then moved tothe dotted-line position. The lever 39 is connected with the lever 40 ofthe hot cap transfer 41 and turns it, through the agency of its fulcrumshaft 40' until it reaches the position shown in the dotted lines, theheated cap being thus transferred to the die over the table. Thetransfer 41 is stopped by the pin 41 abutting the boss of the heatingchamber, the cap being stopped by the pins 42 on the die, thus ensuringa central position (if the cap on the die. The stacker transfer 43 andthe hot cap transfer 41 are connected by means of the link 44 and movein unison. The stacker transfer, when moving back to the dottedposition, allows the lowermost cap to drop on the table.

The operation of the machine has two distinct phases: The catransferring phase, by moving the lever 1 rom neutral position in adirection opposite to that indicated lay the arrow, and back again toneutral, the is in the meantime remaining level With the bed plate ortable; and the crimping phase by moving the lever 1 from the neutralposition in the direction of the arrow. In the latter case, the pawl 36,coming into contact with the bolt 46, dis'engages itself from the pin 38and trails over the pin to the position 48 shown in dotted lines. Thenick of the pawl is shaped to cause the nose of the pawl to clear thebolt 46 when coming down, thus allowing the pin 38 to engage, whereasthe nose of the pawl hits the bolt 46 when going up, which causes thepin 38 to disengage and disconnect the transfer mechanism.

In the heating chamber 49 (Fig. 7), the plate 50 is kept firmly presseddown on the cap, to insure quick and uniform heating of the same, by thesprings 51. When the cap is about to be transferred to the crimper die,the plate 50 is lifted by the roller 52 which is pushed up by the camblock 53 of the transfer-connecting arm 44, thus releasing the heatedcap and allowing the transfer arm to pass underneath. The heatingchamber has a vent hole 54 at the top and is provided with thethermometer 55. The heating chamber is bolted to the table 56 withsufficient clearance to allow the transfers to pass in and out. Thestacker, consistin of the cylindrical container or magazine 5 issimilarly bolted to the table 56, so that the stacker transfer may passunderneath it for its full length.

The heating device comprises the fuel tank 61, cast integral with thetable 56, and provided with a filler plug 58. The fuel is pipedto theburner 59. and is pre-heated by the pipe 60 passing over the burnerbetween two rows of flames. The vaporized fuel then passes through theneedle valve 62 into the burner. The heated air passes through thechimney 63 into theheating chamber through the opening 64 in the table.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the various operations and their relation tothe movements of the lever 1 are as follows: When the f ing chamberto-the die, both transfer arms going to the dotted position; from III toII, a cold cap is transferred'from the source of supply to the heatingchamber; from II to I,

a hot cap is crimped on a bottle; at rest at I, the crim ed cap iscooling, and another one is being eated. A few seconds are required forboth operations.

What is claimed is:- r

1. In a machine for crimpin plastic caps on bottles, the combination wita source of cap supply, of a cap heating chamber, a

table forming the bottom of said source and extending to and forming thebottom of said heating chamber, a crimpin die associated with saidtable, and means w ereby caps are pushed over said table from saidsource and successively presented to said heating cham- V ber and saiddie. .2. In a machine for crimpin plastic caps on bottles, thecombination wit a source of cap supply, of a cap heating chamber,a tableforming the bottom of said source and extending to and forming thebottom of said heating chamber, a crimpin die associated with saidtable, and means w lereby caps are pushed over said table from saidsource and successively presented to saidheating chamber and said die,said source includin a cylindrical magazine supported by sai table andhaving its bottom cut away. topermit said means to push out thelowermost cap in said magazine.

3. In a machine on bottles, the combination with a source of cap supply,of a cap heating chamber atable.

forming the bottom of said source and extending to and forming thebottom of said heating chamber, a crimpin die associated with saidtable,and means w iereby caps are pushed over said table from said source andsuccessively presented to said heating chamber and said die, said heatinchamber being supported by said table an having its bottom 'cut away topermit said means to push caps in and out of said chamber.

4:. In a machine for crimpin plastic caps on bottles, the combinationwit a source of cap supply, of a cap heating chamber, a table formingthe bottom of sald source and extending to and forming the bottom ofsaid heating chamber, a crimping die associated with said table, meanswhereby caps are pushed over said table from said-source andsuccessively presented tosaid heating chamber and said die,'and a platewithin said chamber engaging a cap resting on said table during theheating operation.

5. In a machine for crimping plastic caps on bottles, the combinationwith a source of cap supply, of a cap heating chamber, a table formingthe bottom of said source and extending to and forming the bottom ofsaid heating chamber, a crimping die associated for crimping plasticcaps with said table means whereby caps are pushed over said table fromsaid source and successively presented to said heating chamber and saiddie, and a spring-pressed and cam-released plate within said chamberengaging a cap resting on said table during the heating operation.

6. Ina machine for crimping plastic caps on bottles, the combinationwith a source of cap supply, of a cap heating chamber, a table formingthe bottom of said source and extending to and forming the bottom ofsaid heating chamber, a crimping die associated with said table, meanswhereby caps are pushed over said table from said source andsuccessively presented to said heating chamber and said die, acommunicatingchimney below said chamber, and a burner at the bottom ofsaid chimney.

7. In a machine for crimping plastic caps on bottles, the combinationwith a source of ca supply, of a cap heating chamber, a ta 1e formingthe bottom of said source and extending to and forming the bottom ofsaid heating chamber, a crimping die associated with said table, meanswhereby caps are pushed over said table from said source andsuccessively presented to said heating chamber andsaid die, acommunicating chimney beldw said chamber, a burner at the bottom of saidchimney, and a fuel pre-heater crossing the top of said burner.

8. In a machine for crimping plastic caps on bottles, the combinationwith a source of cap supply, of a cap heating chamber, a table formingthe bottom of said source and extending to and forming the bottom ofsaid heatingchamber, a crimping die associated with said table, andmeans whereby caps are pushed over said table from said SOUIcG andsuccessively presented to said heating chamber and said die, said meansincluding operative connections, a plate pushing caps from said sourceto said heating chamber, and another plate pushing caps from saidheating chamber to said die. a 9. In a machine for crimping plastic capson bottles, the combination with a source of cap supply, of a capheating chamber, a table forming the bottom of said source and extendingto and forming the bottom of said heating chamber, a crimping dieassociated with said table, and means whereby caps are pushed 'over saidtable from said source and succemively presented to said heating chamberand said die, said means including operative connections, two connectedswing plates, one pushin caps from said source to said heating cham er,and the other pushing caps from said heating chamber to said die. 10. Ina machine for crimping plastic caps on bottles, the combination with asource of cap supply, of a cap heating chamber, a table forming thebottom of said source and extending to and forming the bottom of saidheating chamber, a crimping die associated with said table, meanswhereby caps are pushed over said table from said source andsuccessively presented to said heating chamber and said die, and meansassociated with said die for centering a bottle with respect to a ca onsaid die.

11. n a machine for crimping plastic caps on bottles, the combinationwith a source of cap supply, of a cap heating chamber, a table formingthe bottom of said source and extending to and forming the bottom ofsaid heating chamber, a crimping die associated with said table, meanswhereby caps are pushed over-said table from said source andsuccessively presented to said heating chamber and said die, and abottle centering device associated with said die and including a seriesof movably) connected fingers engaging the top of a ottle. v

12. In a machine for crimping plastic caps on bottles, the combinationwith a source of cap supply, of a cap heating chamber, a table formingthe bottom of said source and extending to and forming the bottom ofsaid heating chamber, a crimping die associated with said table, meanswhereby caps are pushed over saidtable and successively presented tosaid heating. chamber and said die, and a bottle centering deviceassociated with said die and including a series of movably connectedfingers engaging the top of a bottle, and tripmechanism for releasingsaid fingers after they have centered a bottle..

13. In a machine for crimpin plastic caps.

. on bottles, the combination wit asource of cap supply, of a capheating chamber, a table forming the bottom of said source and extendingto and forming the bottom of said heating chamber, a crimping dieassociated with said table, means whereby caps are pushed over saidtable and successlvel presented to said heating chamber and said die,

a crimping device above said table, and

means whereby said device is caused to cooperate with said dieincrimping a cap on a bottle.

14. In a machine for crimpin plastic caps on bottles, the combinationwit a source of cap supply, of a cap heating chamber, a table formingthe bottom of said source and exheating chamber, a crimping dieassociated with said table, means whereby caps are pushed over saidtable and successively presented to said heating chamber and salddie acrimping device above said table, an

table forming the bottom of said source and,

extending to and forming the bottom of said heating chamber, a crimpingdieassociated with said table, means whereby caps are pushed over saidtable and successively pretending to and forming the bottom of saidsented to said heating chamber and said die,

a crimping device above said table, a bottle support below said table,and means whereby said device is depressed to cause it to engage a capon said die and cause said cap to engage the top of a bottle on saidsupport.

16. In a machine for crimping plastic caps on bottles, the combinationwith a source of cap supply, of a cap heating chamber, a table formingthe bottom of said source and extending to and forming the bottom ofsaid heating chamber, a crimping die associated with said table, meanswhereby caps are pushed over said table and successively presented tosaid heating chamber and said die, a crimping device above said table, abottle support below said table, and means for depressing said devicetocause it to engage a cap on said die and cause said cap to engage thetop of a bottle on said support, both of said means being connected withand operated by a manually-actuated lever.

Intestimony whereof,'I have signed my name to this specification.

RUPERT E. RUNDELL,

